VICHY IDELIA EYES & LIFE SERUM

I'm back again with another review today, but this time skincare. I was asked if I would like to test and review the new VICHY IDELIA EYES and was kindly sent the VICHY IDELIA LIFE SERUM too.

Said to be the perfect partner to the VICHY IDELIA LIFE SERUM which I have previously spoken about in my FACIAL SKINCARE REVIEWS post.

VICHY IDELIA EYES has been formulated to re-awaken tired looking eyes allowing your natural radiance to show through while smoothing and reducing fine lines. The eye contour feels softer, hydrated and more supple. Dark circles are brightened with an illuminating effect. The silicone applicator has been designed for precision in application with the soft touch feel of a brush. A hygienic applicator.

Both products offer a dewy, youthful appearance to the skin. The serum is great for a light reflecting inner glow. It has a fab scent and feels very fresh. Once full make-up is applied however the glow I think is harder to notice.

The eye cream is great for those wanting to give new life to the under eye area. It really does brighten and deflect shadows. No I do not have terrible dark under eye circles, but if I can see a difference then hopefully those who do have them will really benefit from using this product as it really does even out skin tone. My eyes look more wide awake and less dull. 

The caffeine in this product is great also to reduce puffiness with its draining and decongesting effects. The applicator does help to spread the product under the eyes, but I think it could work easily without it as I end up using my fingers to pat it in anyway.

VICHY IDELIA EYES is a real 'eye opener' if you will. Perfect for many reasons.

Please let me know your favourite Vichy products with reasons why in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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TIMELESS TRUTH ORGANIC SILK FIBRE ELIXIR MASK

Hi sweeties. The rain has stopped and now we finally have some sunshine to enjoy again. I felt like a pamper today so I tried out another face mask from the TIMELESS TRUTH range.

TIMELESS TRUTH ORGANIC SILK FIBRE ELIXIR MASK

This mask aims to improve the quality of the skin's collagen and elasticity fibres while moisturising and plumping the skin. With a cloth made of natural silk fibre this mask will leave the skin clean and fresh while also having a whitening effect to remove age spots and freckles. Suitable for all skin types.

Before I used this mask I left it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect. After cleansing I opened the sachet above and removed the white plastic backing from the mask. There were two layers of mask remaining which to me looked very similar in texture and colour. I applied the actual mask layer against my face and peeled of the blue plastic film. This was a little awkward at first because I found the textures to be very similar, but once they parted the outer layer came away easily. I adjusted the mask to fit perfectly around my face. It did fit really well and stayed in place throughout the treatment. It felt refreshing on my skin. It's meant to be left on for 15-20 mins 3 or 4 times a week. I only have this one which I left on for 20 mins. I removed the cloth mask and massaged in the residue as well as the remaining product in the pack, following on with my moisturiser.

 My skin does look a little more even than before using the mask, but I think more treatments would be needed as advised for a more noticeable whitening effect. It was refreshing, but this could also be because it had been in the fridge.

I will be reviewing the last mask from this range that I have been sent to try hopefully next week. For my previous TIMELESS TRUTH mask reviews see this link!

Let me know which of the face masks I have reviewed from this range appeals to you the most in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

DHC REVITALIZING MOISTURE STRIPS: MOUTH

Hi my loves. I hope you have been enjoying the weekend and are having a relaxing Sunday so far. Today I have a review for you of an unusual product that was sent to me for free to test out for you.

DHC REVITALIZING MOISTURE STRIPS: MOUTH

These gel strip moisture masks are designed to target the lines that appear with age around your mouth. 

Within the pack are 6 individual packets with 2 strips each for the areas above and below your lip.

Application:

After cleansing and toning peel the strips from the backing and place the sticky side to your dry skin. The thinner strip at the top and the thicker strip at the bottom as shown in the photo above. Mine met at each side as you can see in my Instagram photo from yesterday @vickyayles

Leave them on for 20-30 mins or up to 2 hours for more conditioning. Gently peel off. Use 1-2 times per week.

When first applied they felt very refreshing and cooling which did lessen throughout the 30 mins I wore them. As I appeared from the bathroom my boyfriend cracked up and so did I. You do look strange with them on. I had to sit alone for 30 mins trying not to laugh as they did manoeuvre around a bit when I did. I don't think I could wear them for 2 hours as you can't talk, drink or eat which is no good for pamper nights with the girls either. They did not feel sticky or leave any residue on the skin. They do not have any liquid excess to them.

They did feel very hydrating and yes the skin around my mouth felt smooth, a little plumped and firm, but not tight. It was like new younger skin so I guess the anti-ageing purpose of this product does work. Compared to the rest of my face this area did look slightly more brightened, but not like I was wearing a white moustache and a beard so don't worry.

I don't have lots of lines around my mouth at the moment. I do have some if I screw my mouth up obviously, but that's not a pose I like to do that often, ha ha. If you smoke, already have lines around your mouth or think that this product is something that you would like to try anyway to hopefully prevent, lessen or delay their appearance then I would say give these a try.

As these seemed a little large for my mouth preventing me from talking, drinking and eating perhaps cutting them towards the outer parts before application to give me more freedom of movement would work better. Really those restrictions are the only bad thing I have to say about this product as they do work for me as in they smoothed and evened out my skin while brightening and making it more youthful in appearance and feeling.

This product launched on the 1st of July available at DHCUK.CO.UK, BeautyMART, Selfridges, Fenwick of Bond Street, Bentalls and John Bell & Croyden.

Is this the type of product that interests you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

DHC CLARIFYING PORE COVER BASE

Hi lovelies. I have another review post for you today of a skincare/make-up product that was sent to me for free to review.

DHC CLARIFYING PORE COVER BASE

This oil-free powdery gel-cream primer which blends clear is designed to keep your skin looking naturally matte for hours while minimising the appearance of pores. Targeting the T-zone (forehead and nose) as well as the U-zone (cheeks and chin) enabling your make-up to last longer while keeping your complexion shine-free and fresh. Suitable for all skin types.

Key ingredients:

 Liquorice to soothe the skin

Rosehip and artichoke leaf extracts to visibly tighten and minimise the appearance of pores

Vitamin E for its antioxidant and skin soothing properties

Olive leaf extract to help protect, firm and nourish

Apply over a clean, moisturised face, concentrating on the T-zone area before applying your foundation.

I absolutely love the feel of this product. It's very lightweight, blending into the skin easily while blurring imperfections. I don't have particularly large pores at the moment, but they were reduced to nothing.

The product itself is white, but when applied it becomes a part of your skin and the white disappears. 

I thought this might be quite drying for me due to my dry skin type, but it worked well. I had no dry patches appear throughout the day and no shine or greasiness, but my skin type is not oily.

I wouldn't say that my skin felt more protected, nourished or any firmer from using this product, but I would certainly recommend it for evening out the skin tone and blurring imperfections while reducing pore size.

It also felt like a great make-up base because my skin felt velvety and smooth. I did not really notice my make-up lasting any longer, but that's not to say it didn't. I just don't have greasy skin so my make-up base usually holds up pretty well anyway.

Have you tried this primer? If yes, let me know your thoughts on it in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

Melvita Nectar Bright Brightening Exfoliation Masque

Hi lovelies. Have you been having a great weekend? I caught up with my Mum on Friday and have been at home for the rest of the weekend. It seems like I only left work a few hours ago. Oh well lets enjoy today before most of us have to go back to the grind tomorrow.

Today's post is focused on this fabulous 2 in 1 masque and exfoliation product to help you relax and unwind. This is the Melvita Nectar Bright Brightening Exfoliation Masque.

Application:

So how does it work? You apply this product to dry, clean skin 2-3 times per week. I use it twice a week as I find that's enough for me. After showering using my face wash I cleanse my skin. I then apply a generous layer of this product to my face and neck, avoiding the eye area. You can leave it on for 5-10 mins. I always leave it for 10mins to get the maximum benefit. It feels like impurities are being drawn from my pores very delicately as the product kind of feels like it is sweating. That sounds really gross I know, but I don't mean that it heats up like some masques do. It's like a cold sweat that is very subtle. Once the 10mins is up I massage the microbeads into my skin and rinse off with water and a flannel.

Results:

My skin feels plumped and refreshed after use with a brighter more even tone. I love that it is a 2 in 1 product that only takes 10mins to work at most. The scent is very natural and almost oaty. I have really enjoyed using this product and will continue to do so.

The best price I found for this product is £27.00 for 75ml from feelunique.com

Thanks to Neville McCarthy for sending this to me for free to test and review.

Is this 2 in 1 product from Melvita something that appeals to you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

November GlossyBox

Hi sweetie pies. Have you got an interesting weekend planned? I have nothing on the agenda today or tomorrow other than blogging and mooching around the house. My GlossyBox products for this month are sat next to me right now so I thought I would share my initial impressions with you. 

Connock London Kukui Eau de Parfum ~ £75.00 for 100ml

This elegant floriental fragrance is built around the Gardenia flower and is complimented by a full bouquet of fresh flowers including Italian Bergamot, Moroccan Rose, White Jasmine and Calla Lily. The scent is further enriched with Sandalwood, Vetiver, White Amber and layers of cashmere and sheer musks, completed with the rich bitter chocolate sweetness of Vanilla Absolute and Tonka Bean.

My Thoughts:

This is a very calming scent. It's quite pure and settling. I imagine this to be a scent for some who always looks presentable even if they are just lounging around their house at the weekend reading a book.

Vichy Idelia Life Serum ~ £29.50 for 30ml at Boots

Instantly, complexion looks radiant and fresh, with a more even tone. Pores appear tightened and skin texture feels refined. Facial features look rested and skin looks younger and healthier. Tested on sensitive skin under dermatological control. Suitable for all skin types. Can be applied before moisturising.

- Hypoallergenic

- With soothing and fortifying Vichy Thermal Spa Water

- Non-comedogenic

- Paraben-free

My thoughts:

There are two samples of this in the GlossyBox. I am not sure why as I think trying three different Vichy products might have been better? Saying that though I have put some on my hand and it appears to give a lovely luminous glow. I am really looking forward to trying this out. I have added a link to Boots above, but this product is also available at other stockists. Please see here.

Vichy Idelia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream for Normal to Combination Skin ~ £22.00 for 50ml at Boots

Idealia cream visibly smoothes the look of wrinkles. The skin texture appears refined. Skin feels softer and more supple. It reawakens skin's natural radiance for a fresh and even complexion. Vichy Idéalia is tested under dermatological control. Apply after cleansing morning and/or evening.

- Hypoallergenic.

- Uses soothing and fortifying Vichy Thermal Spa Water.

- Paraben free.

My thoughts:

Again I have linked to Boots above, but you can also purchase from other stockists. Please see this link. This product also has a slight luminosity to it. I am looking forward to trying it out with the product above. This is also available for dry skin which I am on my GlossyBox profile so I don't know why I keep getting sent products for other skin types? Here is a link to the dry skin formula.

Elegant Touch Nail Polish remover Pads ~ £2.00 for 20 pads at Sainsbury's

Acetone free with vitamin E and moisturisers. 

My thoughts:

I have linked them above at Sainsbury's, but again they are available at many stockists. Please see this link. I will try these out, but usually I use nail polish remover that contains acetone to remove stubborn polish.

Emite Make Up Micronized Eye Shadow (Nect)

Micronized Eye Shadow - NECT is a highly pigmented eyeshadow that is completely nickel-free, paraben and perfume. The pigment is micronized to facilitate the application and to create an even and fine results. An excellent choice for lens wearers or those with sensitive eyes. Not tested on animals.

My thoughts:

I hope that you can see this product well enough in the photo above as I am pretty much as pale as this colour. When I swatched this on my hand I straight away thought of the moonlight. It's not ultra glowy or bright, but a really subtle pale shimmer shade. I think it would be great for the inner corners to brighten and open up the eyes making you look more awake or as an all over lid colour. It would be a good contrast against black liner and as the main lid shade for a smokey crease look. I don't think Emite Make Up is available in the UK at the moment and I am not sure on the price as there was no information card in my GlossyBox this month, sorry.

Yves Rocher France Moisturizing Hand Cream Cocoa & Raspberry ~ £1.95 for 30ml

Irresistible softness and indulgent fragrance to pamper your hands all winter long.

My thoughts:

OMG this really does smell of chocolate raspberries. Instantly I thought of the chocolate raspberry creams that I will be devouring from our Roses tin this Xmas. The smell is quite addictive already. For this price too it's a winner so far. The cream sinks really easily into the hands with no greasy residue.

The products from Vichy, Yves Rocher and Emite Make Up are the most impressive to me at the moment in this box. This GlossyBox did come with a GlossyBox magazine, but no information card? I find that really useful to find more information in the products in the box, prices, website links etc so will we not be getting those anymore?

For more information on GlossyBox UK click here and for the US GlossyBox click here.

If you received a GlossyBox this month which products did you receive and are you impressed so far? Did you have an information card included in your box? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Love to you all

Rana Argan Oil Review

Hiya my loves. Sorry I haven't blogged until now this week, but I hope you are all doing well. I have done a little shopping so expect a Primark haul to come. I also saw my Mum on Friday which was great and spent time with my fella today. What have you all been up to this weekend?

Now on to today's review post :)

RANA Argan Oil ~ £9.00 for 30ml or £23.00 for 100ml

I was gifted with this product at the Bloggers Love London Fashion Week event. I was excited to try this product out so I will start with some information about it:

RANA Argan Oil is 100% pure, natural and organic. Free from additives or any other chemicals other than argan oil straight from the argan fruit making it suitable for sensitive skin. Nicknamed the 'miracle oil' due to it's mass benefits. Here are some examples of the benefits of using RANA Argan Oil:

 

Makes skin feel smooth, plump and healthy looking.

Gives hair a healthy looking shine, whilst at the same time repairing damaged, dry hair back to its full goodness.

Helps nails become stronger and shinier.

Relieves the appearance of acne.

Helps to reduce the signs of stretch marks and scars.

Reduces the signs of ageing.

Can be used on men for pre and post shaving.

Can also be used on baby's and children to soften skin and help prevent or alleviate the signs of rashes.

Great to use on all different types of skin conditions and issues.

Be advised that this product is made from argan nuts so if you are allergic to nuts then it is advised to not use this product!

My thoughts:

Face & Neck:

I absolutely love to use this product on my face and neck at night and when I am at home during the day not wearing make-up. Because it is an oil I would not use this product before applying make-up. This feels so nourishing on my face and neck. After cleansing my skin I use about four pumps to cover my face and neck. I massage it in in circular motions, really working it into my skin. I have very dry skin and I think it really works well at keeping it moisturised, plumped, smoothed and pampered. It does feel like a treatment when I apply this at night. I don't really have lines or wrinkles that are that noticeable yet and I don't suffer too much with spots, but overall the skin on my face looks more even and youthful. 

When my Mum saw me on Friday she asked me what I had been doing to my skin because I looked so young. I wasn't wearing any make-up at the time so this was a lovely compliment. I also got asked for ID in Morrisons the other day which made me so happy. Now I am not saying that it is all down to this product, but I do think my skin is looking and feeling better and more even because of it. 

Hands & Nails: 

I have tried this as a quick spritz on my hands and it does soak in really well. My nails are usually painted and pretty strong already so I haven't really noticed a difference in them as yet. 

Hair:

I sprayed some on the ends of my hair to treat it one night. Because it's an oil it did make the ends look like there was product there so I would say it may work during the day for those with curls or afro hair, but to me it's more of a night time treatment to wash off the next day. 

Body: 

On my body it felt nourishing too, but there was a layer on my skin that didn't soak in as well as some creams I have used. It didn't feel greasy like other body oils I have tried, but as I could feel it on my skin I wouldn't use this during the day on my body if I were to wear fitted trousers for example. I did this with another product before and spent the day at work with oil patches on my knees. I would say for those who like fake tan this is most likely a no no. As the skin on my face looks more even though I think it could work well for stretch marks.

I would totally recommend this product for reducing the signs of ageing, nourishing the skin and making it look more even. A great multitasker, but even if it only works for one skin issue I still think it's worth it.

There are are range of other products also available at RANA which you can check out in this link!

What benefits have you found for your skin using RANA Argan Oil? Have you tried any other products from the RANA range? Let me know with your thoughts in the comments below.

Love to you all

Review Of The DHC Bio Cellulose Mask

Hi there my sweet readers. I have had a bit of a busy week so finally I can now get to blogging once again. Today I have a review for you of the DHC Bio Cellulose Mask. I tried this out last Sunday and I think scared my boyfriend a bit. You will see why from the photo within this post :)

So here is a little information about this product .......

Made from fermented coconut water, the unique gel sheet mask clings to the contours of the face to deliver a hydrating serum of botanicals, vitamins and moisturisers. Ingredients include soothing neem leaf, conditioning shell ginger, hydrating amino acids and antioxidant vitamin c.

Apply to a cleansed face. Simply remove the protective films from the mask and place on the face with the tab on the right hand side. Leave for 20 minutes, then remove, pressing any remaining fluid into the skin.

I have never used a face mask like this before and it did look like something I may need for Halloween I must admit. This gel mask is a bit fiddly to apply because of it's gel texture and the liquid that saturates it. Be careful when opening the packaging as the liquid may pore out. I peeled the outer layers from both sides of the mask before applying it which I would not advise. I think it would be easier to only remove the inner layer that sits against your face, press the mask onto your face and then remove the outer layer. As a guidance the tab should be on the top right of your face. The mask can be manoeuvred to fit your face shape at this point so don't worry if it's not a perfect fit. I would just be careful around the eye area due to the liquid. I pressed the mask into my face to ensure the liquid was absorbing into my skin. This did feel a bit weird at first because of the texture, but you get used to it. Be warned you won't look pretty at this point. Think Jason in the film Halloween. 

It has a cooling and refreshing feel on the skin. It didn't tingle and I had no uncomfortable sensation. It moulded pretty well to the contours of my face. Not perfectly around my eyes, but there are so many face shapes and sizes that this I could understand. I pressed the mask onto those areas that didn't sit as perfectly every now and then during my 20 minute facial treat. The mask does not slip at all. It does not feel tight either. It just seals against the skin a little more while you wear it. 

When it was time to remove the mask it came off really easily and there was no pulling on the skin. As advised I pressed the excess liquid moisture leftover from the mask into my face. It felt a bit sticky though and I didn't love the smell that this liquid seemed to have, but I didn't notice it when the mask was on. I let it absorb for about 5 minutes, then gently used a face wipe to remove that sticky feeling and applied a face oil to give my skin a really good moisturise.

The results:

My skin really did feel plumped and new. It also looked smoother and more even in skin tone. My pores had closed up really well and were virtually undetectable. I really don't believe that any other skincare treatment like this could reduce them anymore. I am really impressed with the results from this mask. I think that what it did for my skin was fantastic. If you have really open or large pores I would so go and try this now. It has now been 5 days since I used the mask and my skin is still reaping the rewards. My pores are still shrunken down and my skin still looks more even than it did in tone. A top skincare product for me!

I would be happy to use this product again, but probably once a month or in preparation for an event as at the price it could be costly to use every week. I would say it's worth the price though due to the the results. Great for pamper nights in with the girls and good fun. 

Tip: I read some reviews online also and someone had advised that they used the excess liquid left in the packaging and applied it to their neck. Such a great idea, but I had thrown my packaging away at this point. For those with creping around the chest area I would even suggest using it their too.

So now for the scary mask photo. Prepare yourself you have been warned!

This was the mask when first applied. Sorry I cropped the top off, but you get the idea. 

You can purchase this product from dhcuk.co.uk for £7.50 per mask.

A selection of DHC products are also available at BeautyMART and Selfridges London.

Have you tried any gel masks like this before? If yes, how did they work for you? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

Dermalogica AGE Smart Skinperfect Primer SPF30 Review

Hiya gorgeous people. I have been out in the rain this morning as I had to pop to the high street. It really started to come down on my way home, but now thankfully it is gorgeous sunshine again like it never happened. Weird huh?

Anyway on to today's post. I have a product that was sent to me by Freedom PR for free to review.

 Dermalogica AGE Smart Skinperfect Primer SPF30 ~ £37.50 for 22ml

Some product information:

A multi-award winning three-in-one product which smoothes, protects and conditions skin, whilst correcting surface irregularities and creating a luminous finish. Created to improve the overall health of the skin, Skinperfect Primer SPF30, contains powerful peptides to stimulate collagen production and ingredients, such as white tea, known to fight the biochemical triggers which lead to skin ageing, including ROS, MMPs and AGEs.

Velvety silicones help even out skin texture, creating an instantly smooth surface, whilst hydrolysed pearl (pearl powder), a fine powder rich in amino acids, calcium, sugars and peptides stimulates cell renewal, fights glycation and helps to fight pigmentation by imbibing tyrosinase and enhancing skin luminosity. Natural earth minerals, combined with the pearl powder, provide a neutral tint, suitable for all skin tones, to enhance luminosity and radiance.

Invisible sun protection is provided by the inclusion of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which give broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection without the intense chalky, whitening and drying effects so commonly associated with physical sunscreens.

For optimal coverage and treatment, smooth and blend Skinperfect Primer SPF30 over face and throat after applying moisturiser. It can be worn alone or underneath foundation or concealer to help smooth fine lines and deliver a lasting make-up finish.

Dermalogica products are not animal tested. 

My thoughts:

I applied this product after letting my moisturiser soak in and before applying my make-up. I have the odd blemish here and there as well as hyper pigmentation. On using this primer before make-up those skin issues are reduced so the skin looks more evenly toned. 

My skin does look so luminous with this primer. It gives a youthful, fresh, healthy, dewy glow which looks very natural.

This product is meant to fill in fine lines and although I don't really have a lot of that yet my pores appear to be reduced. My skin overall looks much smoother too. It really does have a velvety finish which you can feel on applying it to your face and neck.

I have tested this product without powder or a setting spray today to see how well it aids in making my make-up last. The glow of the primer does not fade throughout the day. My make-up appears more flawless and enhanced from the moment of application. It feels like the make-up has a base to hold on to. My concealer usually fades throughout the day, but this primer kept it going for longer.

There is a slight scent to this product, but I don't notice it once it is applied. I like the fact that there is a sun protection factor within the products formula too.

As you can see here that the product is a tan shade, but it really does merge into your own skin tone and just adds a glow. The texture is somewhere between a mousse and a cream. It's feels very light on the skin.

That tiny amount in the above photo spread across the entire top of my palm easily so you really don't need much product when using this. I left the edges of my hand free of product so that you can see the difference or check the before photo above. It has a glistening sheen, but it does not leave you with a glittery appearance. Just warm and awake skin. I would feel better wearing this than nothing at all if I was short on time.

I would certainly recommend this glow getting product if you have an uneven skin tone and/or are looking for that glow from within youthful appearance.

What are your favourite Dermalogica products and why? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all